Review: Exhale and Move On

Exhale and Move On by K.L. Shandwick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book more than I thought I would when I first started the book. In the beginning, I was sure it was going to be full of cliches and redundant tropes. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I was wrong. Not only was I completely wrong, I wound up relating to Rick in many ways. Obviously not the rich and famous and ladies' man part, but in other ways.

The narrator did a fantastic job on this audiobook. I was very impressed. He is almost as good, if not as good, as my favorite male narrator of all times. And that says a lot! I won't disclose my favorite narrator in here because this narrator deserves to have his spotlight uninterrupted. All and all, I say it was a very great book. I definitely recommend. Wish I could have kept reading it!

View all my reviews

Review: Plum Lucky

Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Really enjoyed this book. It was quirky and funny. Just like all the other Plum novels. It was also lighter than the normal series books like the other novellas. It gave a refreshing break to the normal doom and gloom Stephanie finds herself in.

I can't think of anything I really disliked about this book. At certain times, I did question whether or not the author was bored with the book, but it wasn't major. Maybe I am expecting too much of the series. Either way, it was a great book and I fully recommend it.

View all my reviews

Review: The Secrets Between Us

The Secrets Between Us by Jennifer Ann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Quinn is shocked when an old flame unexpectedly reaches out to her. Risking everything, she agrees to meet him. Their reunion isn't all good. They both have secrets that they haven't told the other that could potentially destroy any relationship they have. They must find a way to come clean about their secrets and be fully committed to each other.

I really enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would. I had very bad misconceptions when I first started the book. As the story unraveled, I began to realize how wrong I was. But isn't that how it always is? We see part of the problem and draw conclusions based on the little evidence we are given? The trick is to keep listening or keep reading.

I can't say there was anything I didn't like about this book. Normally I would say that a book is too short, but I think the length of this is perfect. I would have liked to see a few scenes here and there played out more, but it wasn't anything major. Both narrators did a terrific job with this. I was very impressed!

I really did enjoy this book. I was originally going to consider this a three-star book, but I kept reading. I'm glad I did. I would have majorly underrated a very classy five-star book. And that would have been a tragedy. It was easy to fall in love with the characters and the story. I fully recommend.

View all my reviews

Review: Life Goes On

Life Goes On by Kelly Moore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Olivia's life shatters as the love of her life dies too soon of an incurable cancer. Before his death, he leaves her videos challenging her to continue on with her life. Promising her another video if she meets his requests. She doesn't want to at first, but she does it for him. For all he'd done for her. She eventually finds his point that life goes on. Even if she doesn't want it to.

I adored this book far more than I thought I would. I can't say I got super emotional as I have with other books similar to this. But I totally adored this book. I adored the message behind it. It was beautiful and touching. Most importantly, it was realistic. It really drives home an important message. No matter how dark life gets, it does go on. You may be left with scars, but you will find new beginnings.

The only issue I have with this book at all is that it just wasn't long enough. I wanted to keep reading this book. I also found out after starting this book that it was the third in a series! I can honestly say it is a stand-alone novel. But that's not how my brain works! I now need to get my hands on the first two books and binge read them like I did this one!

I absolutely adored this book. I listened to the whole thing in one sitting. This is not the first book that I've listened to that was narrated by Sarah Puckett! She is one great narrator! She can bring life to any book! Not that this book needed much of that! But still! I fully recommend the book and the narrator!

View all my reviews

Review: Lean Mean Thirteen

Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Stephanie's ex-husband goes missing. With their colorful history, Stephanie is left as the number one suspect. On her journey to prove her innocence, she stumbles upon multiple bodies. What seems like a straightforward case suddenly gets very messy very fast.

I enjoyed this novel very much. It was different than the rest of the Plum novels. There were some characters that played more of a role in this novel than they have in previous ones. Including Dickie Orr. If Evanovich was trying to portray him as a slimy weasel, she did a great job. It was very impressive.

There were a few factors I didn't like about this novel. There were many parts that seemed to fall flat for me. It didn't bring the normal humor to the story that the previous novels have. Also, there were certain characters that just didn't have the flair they normally have. Joyce being the biggest one. She seemed very tame and mild in this one.

I still enjoyed this story very much. While I would have liked for it to be packed with more humor and suspense, it was very well written. Just like all the rest of the novels. Evanovich is a talented writer who shows her passion in her words and descriptions. I fully recommend this series.

View all my reviews

Review: City of the Lost

City of the Lost by Kelley Armstrong
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Casey survives a horrible event that not many people have. She's a survivor. She makes a decision that puts her and everybody she cares about in danger. To top it off, her closest friend is in danger due to her abusive ex. Together, they flee to a small town where people go to disappear. But the town isn't as amazing as appears to be. People keep turning up dead.

I really loved this book. It had a bit of a slow start and I almost put it down, but I decided to stick with it. The main character was pretty amazing. The book also had a very memorable opening line as well. I'm glad I stuck with it. I can't wait to read the rest of the series. If a reader finds the beginning slow, I fully recommend they keep reading. It'll be worth it.

The only problem I have with this book is the tense changes in some parts of the book. It doesn't really affect the flow. For that reason, it doesn't affect my rating of the book itself. I can't think of anything else I find wrong with this book at all. It was a pretty good book.

I was very impressed with this book. It's very unique. I am very curious about the rest of the series. I personally see this as a stand-alone book, but I love a good series. I'm the type that reads a series from beginning to end. Even when other readers have become bored with a series. I fully recommend this book!

View all my reviews

Dewey's Readathon: Closing Survey

1. What hour was most daunting?

I wasn't able to be as active due to not feeling good and sleeping a lot. So I can't answer this honestly. I can say that I didn't have any issues when I was actually reading. It was a lot of fun. I've missed this a lot!

2. Tell us ALLLL the books you read?

I read the same two books throughout the day. I made a major dent in both, but I didn't finish either. I'm okay with that. I made progress and that's what matters. I'm going to kick ass the next round!

3. What was your favorite snack?

My boiled peanuts! I looked most forward to those!

4. What was your favorite facet of the day? 

Taking pictures and connecting with my favorite community!

5. Wanna volunteer for our next event?

Yes. I do. I've hesitated to sign up before, but I have no idea why I have. I would love to fully participate and volunteer for whatever I'm needed for!


**Important** Sorry I posted this so long after the event was over. I've been sleeping on and off most of the day. I feel better though. So that's what's important! Thank you for taking the time to read this!

Dewey's Readathon: Mid-Event Survey

1. What are you reading right now?

I'm reading the same books, but I've been sick and taken a lot of naps and watched tv. I've been reading during commercials. I've made some amazing progress though!

2. How many books have you read so far?

I haven't finished any, but I've been chipping away at two.

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the readathon?

This is the sequel to City Of the Lost.

4. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?

I have been under the weather today so at random moments I've been going to sleep. Not much I can do but let my body rest. Watching tv and reading during the commercials has helped me focus so much!

5. What surprises you most about the readathon so far?

The amount of posts. I am so used to the hourly posts. I kind of miss it to be honest.

Dewey's Readathon: Getting To Know You Survey

1. What fine part of the world are you reading from today?

I am from Georgia. Which is in the United States. I was born and raised here.

2. Which book in your stack are you looking most forward to?

I have a confession. I forgot about the readathon until this morning. Well, I didn't forget about it fully. I just didn't realize it was going to get here so quickly. I didn't have time to make a TBR, but I don't really make them anymore anyways. Too much pressure to read and if I don't read as much as I feel I should have due to the impossible stack I made myself, I get depressed. But I am looking forward to making a dent in the two books I'm currently reading. The Passage and City Of The Lost.

On the off chance I actually finish both of these before the 24 hours is up, I'll be continuing the sequels for City Of The Lost. 

3. What snack are you most looking forward to?

I think I'm most looking forward to the boiled peanuts I inadvertently got to just kind of veg out this weekend. Turns out my subconscious had my back in prepping for this readathon after all! 

4. Tell us a little something about yourself. 

Well, to start with, I'm an Empath. I don't have many people in my life because I'm super shy and most people take that for snobbery. I love to read and have read for as long as I can remember. I'm also very fascinated with crime shows. 

5. If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what's one thing you'll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to?

I have participated in quite a few of these. In fact, Dewey's 24-Hour Readathon is what got me into readathons in the first place. It introduced me to an amazing community that I'm so blessed to have found. I can't recall if I participated in the last one exactly. I've taken a hiatus on readathons for the past several months. However, I can say the biggest thing I'll do is not take it as seriously as I have the past several times. The goal is to read and have fun. That's the important part to me. In previous readathons, I'd get down on myself because people would have read 2-5 books in a short amount of time and I would barely be halfway through one. But everybody reads at their own speeds. I need to remember that. I don't want to lose my love of reason for anything. 

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog! Feel free to answer these questions in the comments if you want! I also fully encourage you to follow my blog! I don't have a steady schedule, but I will post blogs on here. They are personal to me and mean a lot to me. I invite you to read the rest of my blogs in this blog!